8/16/18
developing your writing plan
Alan Lakein once said “Failing to plan is planning to fail.” When I was a novice writer, I learned very quickly that this quote applies to the process of writing. I was often unsuccessful in finishing writing projects and also procrastinated while working on writing tasks. I struggled greatly with maintaining focus and organization. But once I began to create and follow a writing plan throughout my writing process, I began to accomplish more of my writing goals. I find that a writing plan is essential when beginning to work on a manuscript since it keeps writers focused on the overall intent of their work. A writing plan can be used as a checklist or even a guide that is consulted as writers work on both shorter and more extensive pieces. An effective writing plan includes the elements described below. :
Goals- Establishing clear and measurable goals is the first major aspect of a writing plan. Setting goals puts you as a writer in a position to hold yourself accountable for your progress. Your goal(s) will vary depending on the type of manuscript that is being created. For example, a professor writing for university scholarship requirements could establish the goal of gaining acceptance into a discipline specific scholarly journal or a creative writer could develop the goal of creating a short story or book that is centered on a specified genre of writing. Please note, once you begin the drafting phase of the writing process you might begin to add more goals to your plan and that is completely fine. Before adding new goals, I would encourage writers to verify that they are accomplishing their initial writing objectives to avoid becoming overwhelmed or overextending oneself.
Create a Timeline and Method for Tracking Progress- Some of our writing pieces have set deadlines, especially if we are writing for career purposes. Therefore, it is important to set up a concrete timeline that will support you in avoiding procrastination. I personally have found that planning out my writing process in my Classic Happy Planner has supported me in staying on task with my writing. I have a set day that I dedicate to writing and I try my best to not allow anything to derail my writing time. After each writing session, I track how much I wrote using tracking stickers I purchased from a planner sticker Etsy Shop. This system works for me because it keeps me motivated and pushes me to meet my benchmarks as I write. There are many different formats that can be used to track writing progress. Some writers use their phone’s calendars as an easy way to track their writing, while I have experienced other writer friends who literally sketch out and post a timeline that they follow closely. In the end, it is all about personal preference. As writers, we need to take the steps necessary to verify we are moving forward in our writing processes.
Draft Post Writing Next Steps- Including information relevant to the steps I need to take after I finish a writing project is necessary before I even actually start writing. Incorporating this element as a key aspect of my writing plan, helps me to feel I am moving closer to my writing goals. For example, if a person is writing a proposal for an article it would be important to have it already written out where the proposal needs to be sent and also have all of the other necessary requirements for successful submission written down or printed. Creative writers may want to draft a few ideas related to where they would like to submit or post their writing piece once it is completed in advance of creating their work. Having submission details/deadlines or the next steps for your completed writing piece outlined, could promote you sharing the completed manuscript in a timely fashion upon completion.
Goals- Establishing clear and measurable goals is the first major aspect of a writing plan. Setting goals puts you as a writer in a position to hold yourself accountable for your progress. Your goal(s) will vary depending on the type of manuscript that is being created. For example, a professor writing for university scholarship requirements could establish the goal of gaining acceptance into a discipline specific scholarly journal or a creative writer could develop the goal of creating a short story or book that is centered on a specified genre of writing. Please note, once you begin the drafting phase of the writing process you might begin to add more goals to your plan and that is completely fine. Before adding new goals, I would encourage writers to verify that they are accomplishing their initial writing objectives to avoid becoming overwhelmed or overextending oneself.
Create a Timeline and Method for Tracking Progress- Some of our writing pieces have set deadlines, especially if we are writing for career purposes. Therefore, it is important to set up a concrete timeline that will support you in avoiding procrastination. I personally have found that planning out my writing process in my Classic Happy Planner has supported me in staying on task with my writing. I have a set day that I dedicate to writing and I try my best to not allow anything to derail my writing time. After each writing session, I track how much I wrote using tracking stickers I purchased from a planner sticker Etsy Shop. This system works for me because it keeps me motivated and pushes me to meet my benchmarks as I write. There are many different formats that can be used to track writing progress. Some writers use their phone’s calendars as an easy way to track their writing, while I have experienced other writer friends who literally sketch out and post a timeline that they follow closely. In the end, it is all about personal preference. As writers, we need to take the steps necessary to verify we are moving forward in our writing processes.
Draft Post Writing Next Steps- Including information relevant to the steps I need to take after I finish a writing project is necessary before I even actually start writing. Incorporating this element as a key aspect of my writing plan, helps me to feel I am moving closer to my writing goals. For example, if a person is writing a proposal for an article it would be important to have it already written out where the proposal needs to be sent and also have all of the other necessary requirements for successful submission written down or printed. Creative writers may want to draft a few ideas related to where they would like to submit or post their writing piece once it is completed in advance of creating their work. Having submission details/deadlines or the next steps for your completed writing piece outlined, could promote you sharing the completed manuscript in a timely fashion upon completion.
4/21/18
Now What? Turning Pieces into a Whole During the Brainstorming Stage of the Writing Process
Now that you have jotted down ideas for a creative writing piece, you might be experiencing some confusion relevant to what topic or direction you want to take within your work. Early on in my career when I decided I wanted to begin writing creatively, I struggled with knowing how to begin. As time went on, I realized the importance of establishing clear focus early on in my writing process so that I could fully engage and enjoy my writing experience. Below are steps I have found to be impactful while working to effectively brainstorm for a future writing piece.
Reflect on the type of Writing Piece you are hoping to create- It is important to sit back and spend time thinking about what you hope to accomplish by creating your text. Spending adequate time reflecting on the intentions of your writing could support you in having a clear vision and focus for your writing piece. Questions to consider while reflecting include: What genre of writing do I hope to create? What audience do I hope to reach? Am I writing more for personal enjoyment or do I hope to share my work with a specific audience? What do I hope to gain after creating this writing piece(i.e. Personal fulfillment, monetary gain or writing practice)?
Sketch the Primary Features of Your Writing Piece- At this stage, you want to map out the key ingredients of your writing. For example, if you are writing a fictional text you could organize your plot and begin to develop the key features of your characters. This stage in the brainstorming process could take a significant amount of time because you may have to restructure or revise ideas as you begin to push toward a more creative level. Try to avoid becoming frustrated if you find at this stage you are continually rearranging your ideas. This is a part of the process and will help you to move closer to establishing concrete ideas for your writing.
Develop a Writing Plan- As you move closer to the drafting of your manuscript it is important to create a writing plan. A writing plan assist writers in staying abreast of their writing goals while also attempting to manage other aspects of their lives. I will devote a future post to this step since it is extremely important to implement before you begin to draft your manuscript. In your writing plan, be sure to map out when you plan on writing, establish concrete writing goals and determine how you will track your progress. It is important to plan and set realistic milestones for yourself during this step so that you can feel the joy of meeting marks while embarking on your writing journey.
Once you reflect on your writing goals, map out the key features of your writing piece and finalize a plan for your writing plan you are ready to begin drafting your manuscript.
stepping out of your comfort zone
11/2/17
Writing is one of the best creative outlets as it lets individuals get out their thoughts, feelings and insights in an artistic format. In some cases, people may be hesitant to start their journey into the realm of writing because of self doubt and insecurities related to their skill sets as a writer. If you are an individual who wants to write but is scared to get started, I hope to provide you with meaningful steps that can support you in shifting out of your comfort zone and moving toward your goal of being a writer. Do not allow writing anxiety to keep you from accomplishing something you are eager to do. Below are key areas you could consider when taking the big leap into your journey as a writer.
Reflect on the Reasons You Want to Begin to Write -Do you want to write because it is a part of your bucket list? Do you have stories you want to share? Have you experienced great hurt and feel the need to get your feelings down on paper? Are you a skilled poet who has been too scared to share your creative thoughts? Reflecting on your reasons for wanting to write could act as a source of motivation and encourage you to pick up a pen and allow your ideas to hit paper.
Decide How Writing Could Impact Your Life- Think of all the positive things that could come about as a result of you taking the initial steps to being a writer. As a writer, you could relieve a lot of stress and establish yourself in an arena that will allow you to have your voice heard. Before starting your journey as a writer, it is a good strategy to think about what you desire your end result to be and what you hope to gain as a result of your writing. Doing so could make you even more eager to start your quest as a writer.
Create a Comfortable Writing Environment- Choose a location where you would feel comfortable to allow your creative juices to flow. This could be in a coffee shop, your bedroom, an office space or sitting in a sentimental location that will inspire you to begin writing. Location is key to skilled writers. If the location is not right then you could easily be distracted and give up on your writing tasks.
Brainstorm- Begin to jot down all of your ideas. Remember there does not need to be any clear or logical order to your writing at this point. The goal is to simply get some of your ideas on paper so that you can feel that you are making strides toward your writing goals. After brainstorming you should feel a sense of accomplishment and look forward to adding more in depth details and organization to your randomly jotted down ideas.
Reflect on the Reasons You Want to Begin to Write -Do you want to write because it is a part of your bucket list? Do you have stories you want to share? Have you experienced great hurt and feel the need to get your feelings down on paper? Are you a skilled poet who has been too scared to share your creative thoughts? Reflecting on your reasons for wanting to write could act as a source of motivation and encourage you to pick up a pen and allow your ideas to hit paper.
Decide How Writing Could Impact Your Life- Think of all the positive things that could come about as a result of you taking the initial steps to being a writer. As a writer, you could relieve a lot of stress and establish yourself in an arena that will allow you to have your voice heard. Before starting your journey as a writer, it is a good strategy to think about what you desire your end result to be and what you hope to gain as a result of your writing. Doing so could make you even more eager to start your quest as a writer.
Create a Comfortable Writing Environment- Choose a location where you would feel comfortable to allow your creative juices to flow. This could be in a coffee shop, your bedroom, an office space or sitting in a sentimental location that will inspire you to begin writing. Location is key to skilled writers. If the location is not right then you could easily be distracted and give up on your writing tasks.
Brainstorm- Begin to jot down all of your ideas. Remember there does not need to be any clear or logical order to your writing at this point. The goal is to simply get some of your ideas on paper so that you can feel that you are making strides toward your writing goals. After brainstorming you should feel a sense of accomplishment and look forward to adding more in depth details and organization to your randomly jotted down ideas.
